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Measurement of resistant starch by enzymatic digestion in starch and selected plant materials: collaborative study.

Interlaboratory performance statistics was determined for a method developed to measure the resistant starch (RS) content of selected plant food products and a range of commercial starch samples. Food materials examined contained RS (cooked kidney beans, green banana, and corn flakes) and commercial starches, most of which naturally contain, or were processed to yield, elevated RS levels. The method evaluated was optimized to yield RS values in agreement with those reported for in vivo studies. Thirty-seven laboratories tested 8 pairs of blind duplicate starch or plant material samples with RS values between 0.6 (regular maize starch) and 64% (fresh weight basis). For matrixes excluding regular maize starch, repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) values ranged from 1.97 to 4.2%, and reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) values ranged from 4.58 to 10.9%. The range of applicability of the test is 2-64% RS. The method is not suitable for products with <1% RS (e.g., regular maize starch; 0.6% RS). For such products, RSDr and RSDR values are unacceptably high.

Enzymes↗

Direct fluorescent-antibody technique for the microbiological examination of food and environmental swab samples for salmonellae.

Comparative studies of a modified fluorescent-antibody procedure and the 5 to 7 day method used by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists for the detection of Salmonella were made on 151 samples of wheat products and 183 swab samples. The agreement between the two methods for the 334 samples tested was 92.5%. Food samples yielded 94.7% agreement, whereas the swab samples yielded 90.7% agreement. There were 7.5% false positives for the total number of samples tested. No false negatives were obtained by using the fluorescent-antibody method.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Mediterranean diet of Crete: foods and nutrient content.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the traditional diet of Crete and evaluate the nutrient composition of 3 types of diet common in Crete by means of chemical analyses of composite food samples. To compare results with dietary analyses from a nutrient database developed at the University of Crete, Greece. DESIGN: Three composite diet samples were obtained based on 7-day weighed food records representing the traditional Cretan Mediterranean diet (diet A), typical diet of present-day Greek adolescents (diet B), and fasting diet of the Eastern Orthodox church (diet C). Analyses were performed chemically and using a nutrient database. RESULTS: Chemical analyses provided a definitive measure, for the first time, of the nutrient composition of the complete Greek diet as it was in the early 1960s. In comparing chemical analyses with nutrient database analyses, differences greater than 15% of the analyzed value were found in all 3 diets for cholesterol and some vitamins. The differences between analyzed and calculated values in total fat and saturated fat content were less than 15% in all diets. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides 2 practical examples of the Mediterranean diet, which although widely publicized has rarely been analyzed chemically. Diet A has been shown to be related to the lowest rates for coronary heart disease and cancer mortality compared with the diets of the other populations of the Seven Countries study. As such, it could be recommended for health promotion and prevention of disease. Diet C contains even lower amounts of saturated fatty acids and would be excellent for patients with hypercholesterolemia. The high antioxidants in diet C probably maintain very low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Dietary analyses of the Greek diet could be based on an operational database such as ours if further chemical analyses are performed on specific foods. These would result in improved precision of the database and possible extension into national food composition tables and a national dietary database.

Adolescent↗

Rapid identification of closely related muscle foods by vibrational spectroscopy and machine learning.

Muscle foods are an integral part of the human diet and during the last few decades consumption of poultry products in particular has increased significantly. It is important for consumers, retailers and food regulatory bodies that these products are of a consistently high quality, authentic, and have not been subjected to adulteration by any lower-grade material either by accident or for economic gain. A variety of methods have been developed for the identification and authentication of muscle foods. However, none of these are rapid or non-invasive, all are time-consuming and difficulties have been encountered in discriminating between the commercially important avian species. Whilst previous attempts have been made to discriminate between muscle foods using infrared spectroscopy, these have had limited success, in particular regarding the closely related poultry species, chicken and turkey. Moreover, this study includes novel data since no attempts have been made to discriminate between both the species and the distinct muscle groups within these species, and this is the first application of Raman spectroscopy to the study of muscle foods. Samples of pre-packed meat and poultry were acquired and FT-IR and Raman measurements taken directly from the meat surface. Qualitative interpretation of FT-IR and Raman spectra at the species and muscle group levels were possible using discriminant function analysis. Genetic algorithms were used to elucidate meaningful interpretation of FT-IR results in (bio)chemical terms and we show that specific wavenumbers, and therefore chemical species, were discriminatory for each type (species and muscle) of poultry sample. We believe that this approach would aid food regulatory bodies in the rapid identification of meat and poultry products and shows particular potential for rapid assessment of food adulteration.

Algorithms↗

Direct skin test in highly sensitized guinea pigs for rapid and sensitive determination of staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

The direct skin test in highly sensitized guinea pigs was developed as a rapid and extremely sensitive assay for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in foods. This report details the experimental conditions required to elicit optimal sensitization of guinea pigs to SEB. An intense and persistent immunoglobulin E (IgE) anti-SEB response was established in strain 13 guinea pigs pretreated with cyclophosphamide followed by four sensitizing doses of 10 micrograms of SEB 1 month apart. The conditions, however, optimal for eliciting IgE responses led to a sustained failure to produce antibody of the IgG1 subclass. With the use of highly sensitized guinea pigs, one can achieve a sensitivity ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 pg of purified SEB by the direct skin test for at least 7 months after the last challenge. For analysis of SEB in food extracts, the entire assay can be accomplished within 20 min with a sensitivity of 10 to 100 pg SEB per ml of prepared food samples, and the recovery of enterotoxin from spiked food products ranged between 75 and 89% of the amount added.

Biological Assay↗

Practical aspects of dietary management of hypertension: compliance.

This paper addresses compliance issues that arise in the implementation of weight loss and other therapeutic diets prescribed for the individual with hypertension. Dietary compliance poses a significant problem. Studies suggest that dropout rates in both self-help and other weight loss programs range from 50 to 70% within 1-2 years. Further, just 50% of persons can be expected to comply with diets for cardiovascular disease. Assessment of adherence is confounded by the lack of precise measures that reflect adherence over time. Measures in general use include daily diaries, urinary chloride dip sticks, multiple 24-h or overnight urinary sodium, analysis of food samples, as well as 24-h recall and food histories. When poor compliance has been identified, it has been associated with a variety of factors. These include multicomponent regimens, conflicting lifestyle habits, skill in identifying and (or) preparing appropriate foods, the cost:benefit ratio of compliance, and social support. Limited investigation has been undertaken to directly improve compliance to diet. However, such strategies as tailoring, goal setting, self-monitoring, stimulus control, social support, cognitive restructuring, and a consistent approach between the care providers show promise.

Attitude↗

The isolation and characterization of some vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from salted herring and roe.

390 food samples (frozen, Kippered herring, Salted roe, fresh carp and salted ham) were investigated for the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. 8 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from herring (6.2%) and roe samples (1.3%). Some biochemical characteristics are discussed. In food borne outbreaks, presence of V. parahaemolyticus must be investigated, especially when the epidemiologically incriminated food is fish or fish products.

Animals↗

Development of a triplex PCR assay for the specific detection of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7.

A triplex PCR assay was developed and evaluated for efficacy in detecting Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a variety of raw and ready-to-eat food products. Following a short enrichment period, artificially contaminated food samples were subjected to a triplex PCR assay, which incorporated published primers for each food pathogen, a protocol for sample collection, and a PCR procedure designed specifically for the assay. The selected primers amplified fragment sizes of 159 bp, 252 bp, and 360 bp for C. jejuni, E. coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp., respectively. This assay provides specific and reliable results and allows for the cost-effective detection of all three bacterial pathogens in one reaction tube.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

[Comparative study of analytical methods for determination of dietary fiber insoluble fraction, in starch rich foods].

The objective of this work was to compare two enzymatic methods for determination of the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in starch-rich foods. The samples analyzed were foods from the legume group, cereals and derivatives, roots, tubers and similars. The results obtained by the Robertson and Van Soest method showed markedly higher values of the NDF fraction when compared with those found following the procedure of Mendez et al. The percentage differences in NDF values found between the two methods were not constant in the food samples analyzed. These differences were not related with the starch content present in the samples nor with the type of processing to which the foods were subjected. The Mendez et al. method is recommended for the samples tested.

Dietary Fiber↗

Comparison of sulfuric acid treatment and multi-layer silica gel column chromatography in cleanup methods for determination of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in foods.

Two typical cleanup methods, sulfuric acid treatment and multi-layer silica gel column chromatography, for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) in seventeen food samples were examined and compared. Vegetables, fruits, cereals, fish, meat and dairy foods were extracted by conventional methods (shaking with acetone/n-hexane or with n-hexane after alkaline treatment). The extracts were cleaned up by sulfuric acid treatment or multi-layer silica gel column chromatography, followed by several column chromatographic steps. Of the samples treated, the vegetable, fruit and cereal samples could be directly applied to the multi-layer silica gel column after extraction. However, the samples containing fats and oils such as fish, meat and dairy foods needed to be treated several times with concentrated sulfuric acid before multi-layer column chromatography, because these samples plugged the column with oily residues. Both cleanup methods gave similar values of isomeric concentrations and showed similar efficiency of purification, and the recoveries ranged from 40 to 120%. These results are considered to provide useful data for the efficient analysis of dioxins in foods which have wide-ranging compositions.

Benzofurans↗

Semiautomatic determination of furanic aldehydes in food and pharmaceutical samples by a stopped-flow injection analysis method.

A kinetic study of the reactions of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde and furfural with 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) by a stopped-flow flow injection analysis technique has been undertaken. A semiautomatic method for the analytical determination of these furanic aldehydes is proposed on the basis of reaction with TBA. The proposed stopped-flow method was successfully applied to several commercial pharmaceutical preparations and food samples. The procedure is faster than the earlier procedure for determination of these compounds in foods and pharmaceuticals.

Calibration↗

Application of a convenient DNA extraction method and multiplex PCR for the direct detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica in milk samples.

The application of PCR for the direct and sensitive detection of food-borne pathogens is largely affected by the quality of the template DNA prepared from food samples. In the present study, a chemical extraction method of bacterial DNA from spiked milk samples for the direct detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica was evaluated by PCR. Gene specific primers were designed to target the nuclease (nuc) and the attachment invasion locus (ail) genes of S. aureus and Y. enterocolitica, respectively and used in PCR. A combination of organic solvents, detergents and alkali in the DNA extraction method permitted a detection limit of 10 cfu ml(-1) milk for both the pathogens. When equal numbers of S. aureus and Y. enterocolitica were spiked in milk samples, the individual detection limit was determined to be 10(3) cfu ml(-1) milk. Simultaneous amplification of 482 and 359 bp fragments of the nuc and ail genes was obtained using the primer pairs in a single reaction. Multiplex PCR enabled the detection of 10(4) cfu ml(-1) milk of S. aureus and Y. enterocolitica without any pre-enrichment step. A combination of conventional isolation technique and PCR using DNA extracted by the proposed method was used to test raw milk samples for possible contamination with S. aureus and Y. enterocolitica. The presence of S. aureus in the tested samples was indicated by both the methods while Y. enterocolitica could not be detected in any of the samples. The template DNA extraction method developed in this study is rapid, sensitive and avoids interference from potential PCR inhibitors and demonstrates the potential of detecting multiple pathogens in milk samples without any enrichment.

Animals↗

Electrochemical biosensing of pesticide residues based on affinity biocomposite platforms.

A novel and very sensitive electrochemical immunosensing strategy for the detection of atrazine based on affinity biocomposite transducers is presented. Firstly, the graphite-epoxy composite transducer was bulk-modified with different universal affinity biomolecules, such as avidin and Protein A. Two strategies for the immobilization of the anti-atrazine antibodies on both biocomposite transducers were evaluated: 'wet-affinity' and 'dry-assisted affinity' immobilization. Finally, the performance of a novel anti-atrazine immunocomposite bulk-modified with anti-atrazine antibodies was also evaluated. The better immobilization performance of the anti-atrazine antibodies was achieved by 'dry-assisted affinity' immobilization on Protein A (2%) graphite-epoxy biocomposite (ProtA(2%)-GEB) as a transducer. The immunological reaction for the detection of atrazine performed on the ProtA(2%)-GEB biosensors is based on a direct competitive assay using atrazine-HRP tracer as the enzymatic label. The electrochemical detection is thus achieved through a suitable substrate and a mediator for the enzyme HRP. This novel strategy was successfully evaluated using spiked orange juice samples. The detection limit for atrazine in orange juices using the competitive electrochemical immunosensing assay was found to be 6 x 10(-3) microgL-1 (0.03 nmolL-1) thus this biosensing method accomplishes by far the LODs required for the European Community directives for potable water and food samples (0.1 microgL-1). This strategy offers great promise for rapid, simple, cost effective, and on-site biosensing of biological, food, and environmental samples.

Atrazine↗

Selective sample cleanup by reusable sol-gel immunoaffinity columns for determination of deoxynivalenol in food and feed samples.

The paper describes the development of a simple and highly selective method for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in food and feed samples. It combines sample cleanup with sol-gel immunoaffinity columns containing monoclonal anti-DON antibodies and quantification of DON by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The sol-gel immunoaffinity columns are as selective as commercial DON immunoaffinity columns but superior with regard to production costs, storage stability, and reusability. In applying the method for the analysis of maize, wheat, and spaghetti samples, it offers detection limits (LOD, S/N = 3) of 240, 200, and 207 ng/g, and recoveries of 83, 99, and 97%, respectively.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Food-borne outbreak of group G streptococcal sore throat in an Israeli military base.

A food-borne outbreak of sore throat caused by Lancefield group G beta-haemolytic streptococci and involving 50 persons occurred in May 1983 in an Israeli military camp. All of the patients available for clinical examination had sore throat and difficulty in swallowing. Exudative tonsillitis occurred in 46% of the patients and the body temperature was above 37.5 degrees C in 81%. The pattern of attack was uniform over the base and 37 became ill during the night and morning of the 5 May. Thirty-two (84%) of the throat cultures taken from 37 patients grew group G beta-haemolytic streptococci. Eight of 29 contacts were positive for group G beta-haemolytic streptococci and 6 of the 28 foodhandlers examined had positive cultures of the same group. The organism was also isolated from one food sample. The epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicated that a food handler, a convalescent carrier of group G streptococci, might have been the source of infection. Assumptions on the potential of non-group A streptococci to cause epidemics are discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Proteomic survey of metabolic pathways in rice.

A systematic proteomic analysis of rice (Oryza sativa) leaf, root, and seed tissue using two independent technologies, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by tandem mass spectrometry and multidimensional protein identification technology, allowed the detection and identification of 2,528 unique proteins, which represents the most comprehensive proteome exploration to date. A comparative display of the expression patterns indicated that enzymes involved in central metabolic pathways are present in all tissues, whereas metabolic specialization is reflected in the occurrence of a tissue-specific enzyme complement. For example, tissue-specific and subcellular compartment-specific isoforms of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase were detected, thus providing proteomic confirmation of the presence of distinct regulatory mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and breakdown of separate starch pools in different tissues. In addition, several previously characterized allergenic proteins were identified in the seed sample, indicating the potential of proteomic approaches to survey food samples with regard to the occurrence of allergens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Content of redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants) in foods consumed in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Supplements containing ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, or beta-carotene do not protect against oxidative stress-related diseases in most randomized intervention trials. We suggest that other redox-active phytochemicals may be more effective and that a combination of different redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants or reductants) may be needed for proper protection against oxidative damage. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to generate a ranked food table with values for total content of redox-active compounds to test this alternative antioxidant hypothesis. DESIGN: An assay that measures the total concentration of redox-active compounds above a certain cutoff reduction potential was used to analyze 1113 food samples obtained from the US Department of Agriculture National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. RESULTS: Large variations in the content of antioxidants were observed in different foods and food categories. The food groups spices and herbs, nuts and seeds, berries, and fruit and vegetables all contained foods with very high antioxidant contents. Most food categories also contained products almost devoid of antioxidants. Of the 50 food products highest in antioxidant concentrations, 13 were spices, 8 were in the fruit and vegetables category, 5 were berries, 5 were chocolate-based, 5 were breakfast cereals, and 4 were nuts or seeds. On the basis of typical serving sizes, blackberries, walnuts, strawberries, artichokes, cranberries, brewed coffee, raspberries, pecans, blueberries, ground cloves, grape juice, and unsweetened baking chocolate were at the top of the ranked list. CONCLUSION: This ranked antioxidant food table provides a useful tool for investigations into the possible health benefit of dietary antioxidants.

Antioxidants↗